Combination switch



June-24, 19240 E. L. OSBORN COMBINATION SWITCH Filed May 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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June 24, 1924. 1,498,927

E. OSBORN COMBINATION SWITCH Filed May 5. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 gwwwtcw.

Hume 24, 19245 1,498,927

E. L. OSBORN I COMBINATION SWITCH Filed May 5, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 24, 1924.

EDWARD L. OSBORN, 0F ROSE, NEW YORK.

COMBINATION SWITCH.

' Application filed. May 5, 1923. Serial No. 636,888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD L. OsBoRN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rose, in the county of Wayne, State of New York, have invented a new and useful Combination Switch; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the'art to which it appertains to make and use the same. I

The invention relates to combination switches and has for its object to provide a device of this character particularly adapted for use in connection with automobiles, however the device may be used generally in connection with circuits which it is desired to lock, against meddling by ui'iauthorized persons. I v

A further object is to provide a combination switch wherein a plurality of flexible members are provided, which members are' provided with numbers, any combination of.

which may be set for releasing the switch, and allowing the switch to be moved to an operative or inoperative position, and the members not involved in the unlocking op-. eration set where a depression thereof will additionally lock the device.

A further object is to provide in combination with an automobile, a combination switch in circuit with the essential circuits of the automobile and provided with means whereby the device may be set for opening said circuits, or for closing said circuits and controlled by depressible members, which may be set for various combinations, thereby allowing the operator to lock the device in operative or inoperative position.

A further object is to provide means whereby the combination may be changed as to the numbers or combination of numbers,

for instance one or more.

A further object is to provide spring conjtact arms in the path ofdepressi'ble keys whereby'upon depression thereof by unauthorized persons, in trying to figure out the combination of the switch, which contactmembers Wlll close an auxiliary circuit thereby sounding an alarm.

A further object is to provide a combination switch comprising a rotatable shaft having a member secured thereto, which is provided with a pin adapted to be moved to various positions and received in notches in a statlonary notched disc for holding a notched wheel carried by the shaft in various positions for receiving spring actuated arms member cooperating with stationary con'- tact arms for closing and opening a circuit. Also to provide spring means for normally maintaining the pin in any depression in which it may be placed. The wheel is prevented from rotation until released by the proper depressib'le members, the numbers of which are known to the operator of the automobile. p

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

' In the drawings Figure l is a front elevation of the switch. V

Figure 2 is a top, plan view of the switch.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the switch taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure A is a horizontal'sectional view through the switch taken on line H of Figure 1. V

Figure 5 is a rear View of the device with the base removed.

Figure 6 is a sectional view through one of the guide sleeves for the depressible member, showing one of said members there-in.

Figure 7 is a detail perspective view of the lug carried member and the stationary memberhaving depressions therein.

Figure 8 is a perspective View of one of the spring actuated arms.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing the device in connection with a plurality of circuits.

Referring to the drawings, the numerall designates the cylindrical casing and 2 the base thereof, whichmay be secured to the casing 1 in any]suitablemanner, however for properly positioning the base on the casin th base is provided with an aper' true 3 for the reception of a pin 4 carried by the casing 1. Slidably' mounted and axially movable within the casing 1 is a shaft 5, which shaft extends through a sleeve 6 car ried by the forward side of the casing, and is normally held outwardly by means of the coiled spring 7 which isinter'posed between the casing and the handle member 8. flowever it will be seen that the shaft 5 may be forced inwardly against the action of the spring 7. Secured tothe inner side of the casing 1 is a disc 9 having a plurality of apertures 10 therein concentrically arranged in relation to the shaft and adapted to receive a pin 1.1 carried by the insulation block 12. It will be seen that by forcing the shaft 5 inwardly and disengaging the pin 11 and then rotating the shaft, the pin 11 can be placed in any of the apertures 10, which apertures correspond to the depressible keys 13 carried by the casing and consequently allows the indicating pointer 14 on the finger engaging member 8 to be positioned in relation to any of said finger engaging members, the purpose of which will presently appear, The insulated block 12 has extending therethrough a conductor member 15, the ends 16 of which extend beyond the block 12, and are adapted to engage conductor members 17 carried by insulation blocks 18, which conductor members are in circuit with binding screws 19, and when the conductor member 15 is in engagement therewith closes; a circuit through the wires 20 which control an engine or engine starter. It will be seen thatwhen the members 16 and 17 are out of engagement with each other, the circuit will be broken'and consequently it will be impossible to operate the engine controlled by the circuit. When the contact members 16 and 17 are in engagement with each other, it will be seen that the pointer 14 points in the direction of the depressible member 4, consequently the operator will know that it is necessary to return the pointer in the direction of the member 13 marked 4, to again close the circuit. During the turning operation it is necessary to hold the finger engaging member 8 inwardly and holding disengaged the pin 11,

however after the finger engaging member has been rotated to the proper position, the operator releases the finger engaging member 8 and consequently the spring 7 forces the pin 11 into the adjacent aperture 10 of the disc 9. Secured to the shaft 5 and disposed within the casing 1 is a notched wheel 21, which is provided, preferably with ten recesses 22 in its outer periphery, which recesses are adapted to receive the right angularly disposed portion 23 of pivoted arms 24. Arms 24 are pivotally connected at 25 to a band 26 disposed within the casing and are normally forced outwardly from the wheel 21 by means of coiled springs 27. The portions 28 of the pivoted arms 24 are radially disposed, and are in the path of depressible key shafts 29, which shafts are provided with bevelled surfaces 80, which when the keys are depressed engage the radially disposed portions 28 and either force the arms inwardly or outwardly at their free ends according to the position of the key shafts 29. By referring to Figure (3, it will be seen that when the key shaft 29 and coil spring 27 is reversed or turned half way around the pivoted arm 24 will be moved in an opposite direction. The purpose of reversing the keyshafts 29 and coil springs 27, allows any of the arms 24 to be posi tioned where they will normally engage the notches of the wheel 21 as clearly shown by the arms 24" in Figure 5, consequently the wheel 21 is permanently locked until the operator depresses the particular key for releasing the wheel 21 and allowing the shaft 5 to be rotated to a position where the contact members 16 and 17 will be out of en gagement with each other, thereby breaking the circuit or in a position whereby said contact members will engage each other, thereby closing the circuit. lVhen the operator leaves the automobile he depresses the keys which control the arms 24, pushes in on the finger engagement member 8 and rotates the shaft 5 until the contacts 16 and 17 are out of engagement with each other thereby breaking the circuit. As soon as the shaft 5 is rotated to the desired position, the depressed keys are released, which allows the right angled portions 23 of the pivoted arms 24 to be received within the notches 22 of the wheel 21 for holding said wheel against rotation, and consequently it will be necessary for an unauthorized person to locate the exact key to depress. However to additionally safeguard against the wheel 21 being forced around while manipulating the various keys, the other keys which do not control the wheel 21 are positioned whereby the bevelled surfaces 30 thereof will force the right angled portions 23 into the recesses 22 and consequently additionally holding the wheel against rotation.

Carried by the inner sides of the base 2 are spring conductor arms 31, the ends of which arms overlie the inner ends of the key shafts 29, which are preferably formed from insulating material, and it will be seen that when an unauthorized person in tampering with the device depresses either key, which register with the spring arms 31, said spring arms will be forced'into engagement with the conductor members 32, either one of which will close the horn circuit 33, thereby sounding an alarm. As many circuits of this character may be used as desired for instance a circuit 34 may be provided which will sound an alarm within a house when the device is on an automobile disposed in a garage.

From the above it will be seen that a combination switch is provided, which is simple in construction, positive in its operation, and one wherein the device may be set to control a vital circuit controlling the engine of the automobile, thereby preventing unauthorized persons from operating the auto mobile. It will also be seen that various auxiliary signalling circuits are controlled in such a manner whereby if an unauthorized person attempts to operate the device, alarms will be sounded.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is 1. A combination switch, said switch comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, a notched wheel carried by said shaft within the casing, an aper tured disc secured to casing, a pin carried by a meml'iersecured to the shaft and cooperating with the apertures of the disc whereby the position may be changed, pivoted arms pivoted to the inner wall of the casing and cooperating with the notches of the notched wheel, depressible keys cooperating with the pivoted arms, and forming means whereby upon the depression of a predetermined combination of keys the wheel will be unlocked and contact members carried by the casing and by one of the members carri d by the shaft are adapted to be moved into and out Ol engagement thereby closing or opening a circui 2. A combination switch, said switch comprising a centrally disposed depressible shaft, interengaging lQElllS between the shaft and an apertured disc, a notched wheel carried by the shaft, a plurality of pivoted spring actuated arms secured to the casing, cooperating with the notches of the notched wheel for holding the wheel against rotation or allowing rotation thereof, a plurality of depressible keys, said keys cooperating with the pivoted arms whereby said arms will be moved into or ment with the notched wheel and contact members whereby upon the rotation of the shaft a circuit will be closed or opened.

out of engage- 3. A combination switch comprising a casing, a shaft rotatably mounted in said casing, spring means for normally forcing said shaft outwardly, a disc secured within the casing and having a plurality of apertures, a member carried by the shaft and adapted to be received in any one of said apertures, contact members adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with each other by rotation of the shaft, a notched wheel carried by the shaft, pivoted arms attached to casing cooperating with said notched wheel for holding or releasing the same, depressible keys cooperating with said arms for moving the same inwardly or outwardly, contact members carried in the bottom of the casing, spring arms carried by the bottom of the casing and overlying the contact members and in the path of the inner ends of depressible members.

4. The combination with a combination switch, said switch comprising a Wheel, pivoted arms cooperating with said wheel, of spring arms overlying the inner ends of depressible members controlling the arms, said spring members cooperating with contact members for, controlling an auxiliary circuit.

5. The combination with a combination switch, said switch being controlled by depressible keys, said keys having stems cooperating with locking and unlocking members, of circuit maker and breaker means in the path of the inner ends of the stems and forming means whereby an auxiliary circuit may be controlled.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

lVitnesses V. A. HUNT, E. B. PALMER. 

